Physical Oceanographer

Dr Steve Rintoul

Dr Stephen Rintoul is a physical oceanographer and climate scientist with a long-standing interest in the Southern Ocean and its role in the earth system.

Born and educated in the USA, he has worked at CSIRO and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre in Hobart since 1990.

Dr Rintoul’s research has contributed to a deeper appreciation of the influence of the Southern Ocean on global climate, biogeochemical cycles and biological productivity. An active observational oceanographer, he has led 15 expeditions to the Southern, Indian and Pacific Oceans. He has been active in the leadership of international research programs, including the Southern Ocean components of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment, the Climate Variability and Predictability Program, and the Southern Ocean Observing System.

Dr Rintoul served as a Coordinating Lead Author of the Oceans chapter in the IPCC 5th Assessment Report.

social & academic profiles

Current Research

Dr Rintoul is co-leader of the Oceans and Cryosphere Program, and co-leader of ACE CRC Project 1.1: The Southern Ocean in a Changing Climate.

He was Chief Scientist on the Aurora Australis expedition to the Totten and Mertz Glaciers in December 2014 – January 2015.